Martin "Marty" Louis Mages was born on August 24, 1935 in Panama, Iowa, to Louis and Anna (Arkfeld) Mages. Marty was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Panama and attended St. Mary’s Catholic School through the tenth grade.

Marty started his farming career at the age of fifteen due to the ill health of his father. Three years later, on August 26, 1953, he was united in marriage to Alva Munchrath at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling, Iowa. Eight children were born to this union: Robert, Marge, Jeanie, Betty, Karen, Don, Joe, and Susie. He continued on the family farm where he retired in 2001.

In 1968, the family formed a country band, "The Martin Family". Marty was a great musician and mastered many different instruments, his favorites being steel guitar and the accordion. They performed together for several years throughout the Midwest.

In 1960, Marty launched his own trucking business hauling farm commodities and livestock. He expanded the business in 1973 when he became a grain dealer, incorporated in 1983, and continued trucking after the farm sale in August of 2001.

Marty and Alva were able to travel to several different countries including Europe and Canada, where his favorite fishing spot is.

Marty died at Myrtue Medical Center on March 29, 2007, having attained the age of seventy-one years, seven months, and five days. He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Anna Mages.

Marty is survived by his wife of fifty-three years, Alva Mages of Panama, Iowa; his children: Robert and his wife Lori Mages of Panama, Iowa, Marge and her husband Rod Bach of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Jeanie and her husband Scott Rowell of Council Bluffs, Betty and her husband Steve Klein of Earling, Karen and her husband Major Bill Holt of Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia, Don and his wife Darlene Mages of Panama, Joe Mages of Panama, and Susie and her husband Darren Thomsen of Olathe, Kansas; twenty-one grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren, other family members, and many friends.